Melody Christian named softball team MVP; Four others honored

Jun 21, 2011

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore Melody
Christian has been named the Most Valuable Player on the
Tennessee Tech softball team for the 2011 season, and four other
Golden Eagles have received post-season honors announced this week
by head coach Tory Acheson.

In addition to Christian's MVP award, she was also named the Best
Offensive Player, Lacie
Coquerille was named Best Defensive Infielder and won the
Coach's Award, Kaleigh Gates was
named Best Defensive Outfielder, Holly Thomas won
the Best Pitcher Award, and Kayla Floyd captured
both the Most Improved Player Award and the Freshman of the Year
honor.

Christian, who won the Freshman of the Year award last season,
followed up with the MVP honor and Best Offensive Player in her
second season on the roster. A versatile player from Kingston
Springs, Tenn., Christian filled in at a variety of positions for
the Golden Eagles. Projected as a starter in the outfield, she
played some at third base, shortstop and left field –
sometimes all three in one game.

Starting in 47 of the team's 48 games, she topped the team and
ranked seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .354 batting
average. The left-handed leadoff hitter led Tech with 57 hits, 34
runs scored and ranked third in the league with 28 stolen bases in
32 attempts.

"Melody had a strong year for us offensively and was really the
catalyst for our team," Acheson said. "When she got on base, we did
well. Defensively, she did a good job filling in at different
positions during the course of the year. She played in different
spots and made some sacrifices."

Coquerille, who earned her third consecutive Academic
All-District selection in May, claimed the team's Best Defensive
Infielder Award for the fourth year in a row and also earned
back-to-back Coach's Award honors. A senior from Rocky Face, Ga.,
Coquerille started all 48 games at second base and compiled a solid
.972 fielding average with six errors in 211 chances. After
claiming two straight MVP honors, Coquerille batted .258 in her
final season. She was among team leaders in hits, doubles, home
runs and RBI. She led the team in both sacrifice bunts and
sacrifice flies.

"Lacie didn't have a 'fairy tale' ending to her career with a
senior year that she was hoping for, but she remained a
hard-working, committed and consistent player for us," Acheson
said. "She worked hard every day and overcame injuries and
surgeries. She was a leader for this team for four years, both in
the classroom and on the field. She's just an outstanding
person."

While Coquerille was getting the job done in the infield, Gates
captured the Best Defensive Outfielder honor. A senior from Tucson,
Ariz., Gates played in 47 games and started 46, posting a .949
fielding average with two errors in 37 chances.

"Kaleigh was the most consistent of our outfielders," Acheson
said. "She worked hard off the field, in the weight room, and in
trying to improve her game."

Thomas, a junior from Ooltewah, Tenn., was the team's workhorse in
the circle with 27 starts and 30 total appearances. She managed a
16-9 won-loss record with a 2.94 ERA, and had 17 complete games
with six shutouts. Throwing 173.2 innings, Thomas piled up 131
strikeouts and held opponent hitters to a combined .209 batting
average. Defensively, she handled 67 fielding chances without an
error to lead the team with a perfect 1.000 fielding mark. She
ranked fourth in the OVC in innings, complete games and shutouts,
fifth in strikeouts and wins, and eighth in ERA.

"Holly was our best pitcher this year, and it was a demanding year
on her," Acheson said. "When she's good, she's really good, and
we're working with her to become more consistent. She won some big
games for us."

Floyd, a freshman from Columbia, Tenn., developed into a
contributor late in the season and actually posted the highest
batting average on the team in her limited plate appearances.
Playing in 41 games with nine starts, she managed a .389 batting
average in 18 at bats, with seven hits and 12 runs scored. She was
also 12-for-13 in stolen bases, and her .450 on-base percentage was
second on the team. She was named both the Freshman of the Year and
Most Improved Player.

"From the start of the year to the end of the season, Kayla was
one of the most improved players I've ever coached," Acheson said.
"She has become the total package and is a truly talented athlete.
She had a lot of work to do to become a better play, and she did an
excellent job learning to play the game at a higher level. She has
a very bright future in the coming years."